Verizon Fios with Nighthawk : Correct Set Up?

[rocketpower]

Hey guys, so I am an absolutely noob when it comes to things like this. I just wanted to run it by you guys to see if I set it up correctly.

Right now, I have fios 50/50. When I have my comp wired via ethernet, according to speed test, Im pulling down a good 55 / 50ish up. Problem is, my wireless performance was absolutely garbage. All my devices were getting about 15mpbs. Again this is with the modem/router that verizon provided me.

I went out and bought the nighthawk. And geez is my speed way up. Problem is sometimes I get 50, sometimes I get 20ish (which is still better than what I got with my original one). I just wanted to make sure the way I have it set up is correct. Really don't want to do anything like mess with the settings etc etc. I want to keep it as efficient as possible while keeping it simple.

http://i.imgur.com/G4Zb1Gy.jpg
At the moment, I have one one end plugged into the "WAN" port on the nighthawk and the other end is connected to the

http://i.imgur.com/dmWOqUQ.jpg
one of the four LAN ports on the modem/router verizon gave me. I tried plugging one end into the WAN on the verizon one so its WAN to WAN but unfortunately I received no signal at all.

Is this the right way or am I missing something? I mean my internet is def faster than before with this nighthawk. Just curious on whether or not I can make it even more stable.

For Verizon modem/router, it says the security was like WEP while the nighthawk is WPA2 if that matters. It seems as though I could still connect to the original verizon router as well. Seems alot slower though ever since the nighthawk was installed. Oh and when I set it up, I just did the "genie" method lol, where they did the heavy pull. In regards to IP, i chose "Get Dynamically from ISP"

Any advice?

 

[JackMDS]

What the Verizon Modem/Router is?

It seems to be able, or configured to b/g only.

Current Verizon ActionTech is b/g/n and should be able to provide around 65 Mb/sec. on the N channel.

Check the Verizon Wireless configuration make sure that if it has N it is on.

If there is WPA2 option switch to it from the insecure WEP.

Set its Wireless Ch. to 1

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Configure the Nighthawk to be on the Network as an Access Point.

Like this - Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Set its Wireless Dual Band on with the 2.4GHz Ch. to 11.

Use WPA2 security.

Doing the above will give you the most Wireless flexibility.

 

[kevnich2]

Why not upgrade to the actiontec rev I router, that'd have much better wireless speeds and not cost nearly as much as the netgear? Since your internet is coming over coax, the way you have it is your only option unless you call in and switch to Ethernet for Internet.

 

[s44]

Set Actiontec to bridge, let Nighthawk route.